NEWS

The Rectorial Council has decided on actions and  developed a specific protocol as required by the Joint Ministerial Decree no. 115744/Z1/4.9.2020, on «Operation of Higher Education Institutions and measures to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within their premises» (Government Gazette B΄ 3707) which defines the measures that will apply for the operation of the Higher Education Institutions for the fall semester of the academic year 2020-21 in accordance with the guidelines of the National Committee for the Protection of Public Health against Coronavirus Covid-19; in particular, the obligation to establish a protocol for the management of any possible or confirmed COVID-19 case, as well as the appointment of case managers for each School/Department.

1. By decision of the Rector and the Rectorial Council, a Committee is appointed for the Coordination of Covid-19-related issues for the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens for the academic year 2020-21 as follows:

1) Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, Rector, Professor of the Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Director of the Department of Clinical Therapeutics

2) Athanasios Tsakris, Vice-Rector of Administrative Affairs, Professor of the Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Director of the University Laboratory of Microbiology

3) Dimitrios Tousoulis, Vice-Rector of Finance, Programming and Development, Professor of the Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences

4) Dimitrios Karadimas, Vice-rector of Academic and Student Affairs, Professor of the Department of Philology, School of Philosophy

5) Pagona Lagiou, Professor of the Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences,  Director of the University Laboratory of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics

6) Vasiliki Papaevangelou, Professor of the Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Director of the Third Department of Pediatrics

7) Nikolaos Sipsas, Professor of Pathological Physiology, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences

8) Sotirios Tsiodras, Professor of Pathology-Infections Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences

9) Maria Tsolia, Professor of the Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Director of the Second Department of Pediatrics

10) Anna Kypriadou, Head, Directorate of Education and Research.

Maro Tsoka Secretary of the Rectorial Council, is appointed Secretary of the Coordinating Committee

2. The NKUA COVID-19 Coordinating Committee is responsible for issuing instructions for safeguarding the operation of the Institution, in accordance with the State guideline. It is also responsible for supervising the safe management of any possible COVID-19 incident in the NKUA.

3. It is the responsibility of the Dean/ President/Head/Supervisor to appoint Local Managers for the management of suspected COVID-19 cases in the relative School/ Department/building, in close collaboration with the Coordinating Committee.

4. The contact with the Coordinating Committee COVID-19 is made: a) via e-mail to: rector[at]uoa[dot]gr, mdimop[at]med.uoa[dot]gr and mtsoka@uoa.gr, or b) by phone on working days and hours at: 210-3689770 and 210-3689768.

5. The COVID-19 Coordinating Committee is responsible for the COVID-19 Local Managers’ training, in order to become competent in the detection of COVID-19 symptoms on time. Subsequently, Committee members will direct the Managers on required actions on a case-by-case basis.

6. The Local Managers must inform and train all members of the academic/teaching, research and administrative staff on the timely identification and management of suspected COVID-19 cases.

What symptoms are compatible with COVID-19?

. Fever

. Cough (usually dry but may also be wet)

. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

. Chills

. Muscle and joint pains

. Headache

. Sore throat

. Rhinitis

. Sudden loss of taste or smell

. Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

Symptoms appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus (usually 3-7 days)

Actions to be taken in case a student of the NKUA or another member of the

University Community (academic, teaching, research and administrative staff) has symptoms compatible with COVID-19:

-If this person  is in the NKUA premises he/she wears a medical mask (if not already wearing one) and departs after having informed his/her / School/Department/unit.

If  departure is not possible due to his/her condition:

-The person in charge for COVID-19 in each School /Department/Unit must be immediately informed

-The suspect case must be isolated in a predetermined well-ventilated area, away from other students/staff

-He/she must wear a surgical mask

-The National Emergency Center must be called

- Hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene is applied

- Personal protective equipment must be available for the staff that manages the COVID-19 case (surgical mask, gloves, waterproof apron and eye protection with medical glasses or face shield in case there is danger of biological fluids/respiratory secretions splashing)

After the departure of the suspect COVID-19 case from the NKUA premises:

- Thorough cleaning of the area and application of disinfectant on surfaces after the departure of the suspect case by a person using personal protective equipment

- A molecular diagnostic test should be given priority after medical evaluation (preferably in a hospital on duty) at the discretion of the COVID-19 Coordinating Committee or of the treating Physician

- Pending the result the student/member of the staff remains in isolation and under home care in a well-ventilated room while the School/Department/unit continues to operate.

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If the molecular test is positive:

-The student/member of the staff informs immediately the COVID-19 Local Manager of the School/Department/building where he/she studies/works indicating possible contacts (colleagues, students in the amphitheater/laboratory/reading room/library, etc.)

- The COVID-19 Coordinating Committee is informed in order to carry out epidemiological  tracing of all possible contacts of the case (members of the university community, students, etc.) in collaboration with the National Organization of Public Health

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- The COVID-19 Coordinating Committee in collaboration with the National Organization of Public Health makes a risk assessment and decides on the epidemiological measures so as to prevent the spread of the virus, on a case-by-case basis which may include, inter alia:

• Closing of halls or buildings or Schools
• Disinfection of premises by the Municipality/Region special service
• Molecular test for all contacts of the case
• Restriction at home (quarantine) of all close contacts

When will a student or other member of the University Community who is a confirmed COVID-19 case return to the NKUA? When his/her close contacts can return to NKUA?

-The student or other member of the University Community with a positive molecular test can return after at least 10 days have passed from the onset of symptoms and at least 24 hours after the complete resolution of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications ) and if the other symptoms have improved.

-Close contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case will be directed to take care of themselves at home with instructions for close monitoring of their health. Contacts who do not develop any symptoms compatible with COVID-19 may return to work after 14 days of home isolation.

- Directions for home isolation to students or staff of the same or another School, Department, Laboratory, administartive unit, etc. will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the risk assessment that will arise during the process of contact tracing

In case the molecular test for the new coronavirus is negative

The student or other member of the University Community can return to the Institution after at least 24 hours from the complete resolution of fever (without taking anti-fever medication) and if the other symptoms have improved.